Earnings from the US refining and marketing segment
were $597 million, only a 14% decline from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, profits from the international refining and marketing segment
were $319 million, down more than 70% from over $1 billion in
the 2012 fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, fourth-quarter earnings in ExxonMobil's chemicals
business fell 5% year on year to $910 million.

Although volume and mix effects increased earnings by $50
million, weaker margins, mainly in specialties, decreased
them by $70 million. All other items decreased earnings by
$30 million.

As with the refining segment, a weak international market
was largely to blame for ExxonMobil's flagging chemical
results. Profits in the company's international chemicals
business fell 56% to $102 million.

David Rosenthal, vice president of ExxonMobil, said
sluggish economic growth in the Asia-Pacific and Europe regions limited the refining business, while Asia's
chemicals industry was hurt due to a spate of new chemicals
capacity added in recent years.

"Those are weak markets compared to the US and Canada
without question," Rosenthal said.

Earnings for the US chemicals segment, which Rosenthal says
is experiencing "top-of-the-cycle business conditions",
rose 11% to $108 million.

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